Runoff

We are seeing runoff conditions from the warm weather last week.  Most of the river and all of the creeks are running high and off colored.  This week with the cool weather rain and snow up high we should see a drop in some of the creeks melt and the river decrease as well. This might be a darn good window to fish.  Currently the flows are 1100 CFS at Kirby and 1810 at Varney.  Not super high by historical standards but still up from the winter flows.  Also we have seen the creeks dumping mud. This should slow down.

Where to Fish

Being successful now is more about where you fish.  Currently the mud from the creeks above the dam has not made it through Hebgan and there is a good stretch of river with clean water.  The best bet is fish from the dam down to the influx of the west fork near Lyons Bridge. This area has clean water and good flows.  Streamers, worms and stone fly stuff are on the Menu.  The river has not come up enough in this area to push all the fish to the banks.  Gravel drop offs and secondary shelves are still holding fish.  If it comes up more look for the banks as the place to be.  If you want to float try the Lyons Bridge area. Our guides have been doing well from Lyons to Pallisades.  There is a distinct green line on the right bank and fish the right side all day.  Streamers in black and olive and worms have been the ticket.  Our hot set up has been and olive Dolly Lama and a squirmy worm trailer .  We like to fish this out of the boat with only 4.5 feet from the indicator to the fly. This allows you to keep it slow and near the bank and not get hung up as much.  This rig will do you well for the remainder of runoff.  Think Dolly Lama, Tackle Shop Sculpins, Trevors Sculpin and Sculpzilla in black or olive.  Most think when the water is up and off colored to fish bright colors.  In fact they can see the blacks and olives better in the murky water.  If you can see 6-10 inches in the water  you can fish it.  We like the Mud and runoff.  Makes fishing easy.  Get the big stuff near the bank.  Takes the where out of the equation.

Dry Fly?

Is there any hope for a dry fly fisherman right now?  There are tons of caddis out there still and some March Browns as well.  On the perfect day you can find a few rising fish in eddies behind rocks and slow inside turns.  Keep your eye out especially in the $3 Bridge area behind big rocks. Stop by the store and we can get you all filled in on the best bugs for runoff fishing.  Just because it is high and off colored does not mean you can not fish.  Some of our best fishing comes during runoff.  Remember watch the flows as they should drop and clear a little this week. If this happens grab your waders and go.